Boat deck windlass

ABSTRACT

A windlass for boat decks and the like wherein the line hauling elements are exposed above deck and the prime mover therefor is protectively installed and accessible below deck, mechanical advantage being increased through two stage gearing whereby a prime mover of reduced size and weight is made possible, and there being a separation of the above and below deck elements whereby adaptability to decking of varied thickness is made possible, all the while maintaining mechanical integrity between said above and below deck elements.

United States Patent Sprague 1 Apr. 25, 1972 [54 BOAT DECK WINDLASS3,288,438 11/1966 Baas ..254/150 [72] Invcmor: izi z g z s ggfi ggg fCanal Primary Examiner.loseph Wegbreit Assistant Examiner-J. KennethSilverman [22] Filed: July 6, 1970 Attorney-William H. Maxwell [2l]Appl. No.: 52,292 ABSTRACT [52]- U S Cl 254/150 A Windlass for boatdecks and the like wherein the line hauling [51] ln.t.cl 1/30 elementsare exposed above deck and the prime mover [58] Fie'ld 184 186 thereforis protectively installed and accessible below deck, 27 mechanicaladvantage being increased through two stage gearing whereby a primemover of reduced size and weight is made possible, and there being aseparation of the above and [56] References cued below deck elementswhereby adaptability to deckin of 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS variedthickness is made possible, all the while maintaining 6 774 1 H1875 M254/183 mechanical integrity between said above and below deck eleantonmems 2,762,232 9/1956 Bade... ...74/467 3,174,353 3/1965 Gross ..74/41717 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures l LL? i in S2 0 A I. l I 3 1/6h ,0 E k em 1l2? 2 .27 29 /7 t: i 5 12? a I F 6 f t I 44- W PATENTEDAPRZSIQTZ3,658,299

sum 1 BF 2 FIG. 1.

BOAT DECK WINDLASS The boat deck windlass of the type hereindisclosed isusually characterized by direct worm and wheel gearing with itsconsequent gear reduction limitations. Further, the usual windlassmounts the prime mover directly upon its frame and alternately if theprime mover is removed or remote then there is the deflection of thedeck structure to be concerned with. Also, a wooden deck swells andcontracts and with the result that the distance and alignment betweenthe above and below deck elements varies to great disadvantage. It is tothese problems that the present invention is directed with the advantageof double reduction gearing with its reduced size prime mover that isremovably spaced from the above deck elements while being mounteddirectly thereto and without reliance upon the deck structure for itsplacement and/or support. Thus, it is an object of this invention toincrease the mechanical advantage of the windlass and/or to reduce thesize of the prime mover employed to operate the output shaft thereof.

An object of this invention is to relate a double reduction gearingwherein the shafts and gear components thereof can be assembled withfacility within the confines of a compact housing little or no largerthan the housings heretofore employed with the conventional singlereduction gear units.

Another object of this invention is to provide adjustability in theplacement of the prime mover relative to the above deck elements. sothat any reasonable deck thickness can be accommodated, the above andbelow deck elements being coupled by telescoped shafts that are keyedand/or splined for driving engagement, and wherein the prime mover isheld positioned to the above deck elements by stand-off spacers, and allof which is fastened tightly together as a single operable unit.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a serviceableprime mover and windlass combination, wherein the said prime mover isreplaceable and accessible for service without affecting the windlassinstallation whatsoever. The prime mover is preferably an electricalmotor and is installed below deck for protection and accessibility,while the windlass per se is permanently installed above deck andis'suitably fastened in working position as may be required.

The various objects and features ofthis invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred form and application thereof, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the windlass andsupporting deck structure.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken as indicated by lines22 and 3-3 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the separation of above deck andbelow deck elements of the windlass shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 onFIG. 1.

The boat deck windlass is illustrated throughout the drawings in itspreferred form and comprises, generally, above deck elements involvingthe windlass per se and below deck elements involving the prime moverand its directly associated elements. Involved in the above deckwindlass elements is a frame A, input transmission means B, outputtransmission means C, and bearing plates D. The frame A is the exposedstructure that is permanently mounted to the deck, while thetransmission means B and C are contained within the frame with accessfor installation through end openings in the frame which are closed bythe bearing plates D. Involved in the below deck prime mover elements isa motor E having an and mount F, and spacers G. The prime mover isprotectively housed below deck and is mounted on the windlass frame A,independent of the deck structure. As shown in FIG. 2, the windlassdrives the usual line hauling elements, for example a capstan H and acathead K. It is to be understood that the line hauling elements canvary as circumstances require, a .typically desirable configurationbeing illustrated.

Referring now to the above deck elements, the frame A is a housing thataccommodates and completely encloses the transmission means B and C. Theusual deck 10 is horizontally disposed and the output shaft S4 isjournaled by the bearing plates D on an axis parallel to and spacedabove the plane of the deck. As shown and as will be described thebearing plates D form enclosures for the frame A and cover the endopenings 15 in the frame and through which the gearing B and C andshafting S2 and S3 thereof is inserted into a chamber 16 within theframe. The frame is comprised of a flat base 17 with mounting ears 18 bywhich it is fastened to the deck 10, and from which there are upstandingwalls, there being front and rear walls 19 and 20 and spaced andparallel side walls 21. The top of the frame is rounded in which casethe walls 19 and 20 merge on a common radius. The lower portion of theframe forms a basin or sump within which the input transmission means Boperates, while the upper portion of the frame forms a head within whichthe output transmission means C operates. Said basin contains the greasefor lubrication as indicated in FIG. 1, there being a plug in wall 20 ata fill level establishing the quantity required while said head iscoextensive with the diameter of the bearing plates D and whichestablishes the configuration of the access openings 15. Thus, the frameA is divided into basin and head portions, the openings 15 being turnedabout a locating center a from which the axes of the shafts S2, S3 andS4 are located. As shown, the top of the frame A, the head portion,carries a bit 22 to which a line can be tied.

The input transmission means B comprises spaced driving shafts S2 andS3, the former entering the frame A from the exterior thereof and thelatter operating within the chamber 16 to drive the output shaft S4. Itis feasible to angularly relate the shafts S2 and S3 to the axis a andto shaft S4 and to the plane of deck 10 and to each other; a mostpractical symmetrical arrangement being shown wherein the axes of shaftS2 and S3 are spaced and parallel and vertically disposed normal to theplane of deck 10 and in a plane midway between the bearing plates D. Itis also preferred that the shafts S1 and S3 depend beneath the axis a orfrom the output shaft S4, for com pactness. In accordance with theinvention, the shafts S1 and S2 are coaxial and the first is driveablycoupled to the second, preferablythrough a telescoped and splinedengagement. It is a matter of choice which is the male or female shaftmember, and in the preferred form the shaft S1 is the female having asplined socket 23 and the shaft S2 is the male having a projecting andsplined stub 24. Both the socket 23 and stub 24 are of substantial axialextent so as to accommodate variations in the thickness of deck 10, andthe shaft S1 terminating in an end 25 spaced upwardly from the face 26of the mount F.

In accordance with the invention, the input transmission means B extendsfrom shaft S2 to shaft S3 to drive the same. 1n the preferred form spurgears 30 and 31 are employed having a ratio, for example, of one to two,whereby the shaft S3 revolves at half the speed of shaft S2.Accordingly, the shaft S2 extends into the frame A through a bearing 27,there being a seal 28 to contain lubricant within the housing chamber16. There is also a bearing 27' spaced above the base 17, integral withand supported by and/or between the upstanding walls of the frame. Theshaft S3 is installed into the frame A through a bearing 29, and whichextends into the chamber 16 and carries the driven gear 31 meshed withthe pinion gear 30. Said gears 30 and 31 are keyed to the shafts S2 andS3, as shown. In practice, the bearing 29 opening is closed by a plugpressed therein.

The output transmission means C comprises spaced and right angularlyrelated driving shaft S3 and output shaft 54, the former operatingwithin the chamber 16 and the latter extending through the chamber andprojecting from the sides 20 of the frame A. In accordance with theinvention, the output transmission means C is a worm 32 and wheel 33transmission, and in the preferred form employs a speed reduction ratioof thirty to one and which has an interlocking action with respect to.revolvementof shaft 54, the worm 32 being driveably carried by theshaft S3. Thus in the example shown, the gear reduction from shafts S1and S2 to shaft S4 is sixty to one, and it will be observed that whenpulling rearwardly at the top periphery of the capstan H or cathead Kthe worm 32 bears downward on the periphery of the wheel 33 and isconsequently thrust axially upward The said upward thrust is borne by ananti-friction axial thrust bearing 34 with the upper end of shaftS3journaled in a bearing 35 aligned with the bearing 29. The bearings27,27, 29 and 35 are integral with the frame A and are readily machinedin proper position and alignment with respect to the axis a by meansofajig or fixture fitted into the turned openings 15.

The bearing plates D are provided to close the turned openings and arerotatably positioned therein so as to maintain alignment of the outputshaft S4. ln accordance with the invention, the two plates D at oppositesides 21 of the frame A are centered through bossed engagement with saidturned openings and are provided with bearings 36 positionedeccentrically therein as required by the displacement of the axis ofshaft 53 from the axis of the shaft 54. In the case illustrated theeccentric displacement is horizontally forward of axis a with the shaftS4 extending transversely through the chamber 16 and projecting throughthe bearings 36 to extend externally of the frame A. The bearings 36 arebossed inwardly and have opposed axial thrust faces that engage thewheel 33 and hold it positioned in alignment with the worm 32. Theopposite ends of the shaft 54 driveably carry the capstan H and catheadK respectively and as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the below deck elements, the prime mover or motor E isprovided for mounted attachment to the frame A so as to operatetherewith as a unit. As shown in FIG. 4 the frame A and motor E areseparable, with the spacers G to be placed therebetween. Although deckstructure varies widely, it suffices to recognize that a deck hasvariable thickness, and for example the decking can be V2 inch plywood11 with an impervious skin 12, and there can be an underlying blocking13', the total structural thickness varying depending upon the structureemployed in each instance. Accordingly, an opening 40 is bored throughthe deck 10 so as to amply surround the projecting stub 24 of shaft S2,and the frame A is fastened to the deck by bolts 41 passing through themounting cars 18. As shown, the stub 24 of shaft S2 extends through theopening 40 and may or may not project from the lower plane of theblocking 13.

The prime mover or motor E is especially prepared for cooperativecoupled engagement with the above deck elements hereinabove described.Since the externally splined stub 24 of shaft S2 is of sizeablediameter, the internally splined socket 23 is also of sizeable diameterand extends into the shaft 51. In practice, the end 25 of shaft 51 isspaced a short distance above the face 26 ofthe mount F, in which casethe socket 23 extends well below said face, thereby assuring telescopedengagement and providing a wide range of adjustment.

In accordance with the invention, the motor E is provided with a uniquerotor shaft 51 that is journaled in a sealed antifriction bearing 42centered in the mount F. The mount F is a plate that is fastened to themotor frame 44 as by means oftierods 43, there being lateral flanges 45projecting from the mount to pass mounting bolts 46 that extend throughthe deck structure and to threadedly engage in the frame A (there beingthree such bolts 46 indicated in FIG. 3). In carrying out the invention,the above described installation is made with the use of tubular spacersG, cut to equal lengths at least the same or greater than the deckthickness. The opposite terminal ends 47 of the spacers are normal tothe axes thereof, and being spaced and parallel said ends provide forfixed spaced attachment of the motor E onto the frame From the foregoingit will be seen that the boat deck windlass is adapted to be permanentlyinstalled insofar as the above deck elements are concerned, while thebelow deck elements are protected and are readily accessible forservicing and/or replacement. The use of a series wound direct circuitelectrical motor E is contemplated, in which case a three conductorwiring is shown to indicate reversibility, however the normal directionof rotation is that shown by the arrows in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Itwill be observed that the prime mover or motor E is of moderate size andwhich is made possible by the double reduction gearing herein disclosed.The offset position of shaft 54 with respect to the center axis a offrame A is negligible and no more than what is to be expected when aworm gear output drive is employed; and the normal required height ofthe shaft 54 above deck 10 provides the space within chamber 16 foraccommodating the input transmission means B. With the windlass hereindisclosed alignment of shafts S1 and S2 is assured, and coupledengagement is effected without regard to variations or changes in deckthickness.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A compact windlass with compound gearing for installation upon andabove a deck and with a drive shaft to be exposed through an opening insaid deck, and including, a frame with a chamber therein defined by abase and upstanding walls closed at the top and with an access openingin at least one of said upstanding walls, a bearing plate closing saidaccess opening, input transmission means comprised of a pair of shaftsjournaled in the frame, one of said pair of shafts being driveablyaccessible through a bearing opening in the base of the frame anddriveably carrying a drive element within said chamber, and the other ofsaid pair of shafts being confined within said chamber and driveablycarrying a driven element within said chamber, means interengaging saidtwo elements to effect a speed reduction of the second mentioned elementand the other of said pair of shafts, and output transmission meanscomprised ofthe other of said pair of shafts and an output shaftangularly related thereto and extending transversely through saidchamber, the output shaft projecting through and journaled in a bearingopening in said bearing plate and driveably carrying a line haulingelement at the exterior of the frame and driveably carrying a wheelwithin said chamber, and the other of said pair of shafts driveablycarrying a worm engageably meshed with the wheel to effect a secondspeed reduction multiplying the first mentioned speed reduction.

2. The windlass with speed reducing means as set forth in claim 1wherein, the lower portion of the chamber is a sump to containlubricant, and wherein the first mentioned driveably accessible shaftprojects through a shaft seal surrounding the said opening in the baseof the frame.

3. The windlass with speed reducing means as set forth in claim 1wherein, the drive and driven elements of the input transmission meansare gears, and wherein the means interengaging said two elements isintermeshed teeth thereon respectively.

4. The windlass with speed reducing means as set forth in claim 1wherein, the access opening in the upstanding wall of the frame issizeable to permit the entry into said chamber of the drive elements andsaid wheel and worm, and wherein said pair of shafts are each enteredinto journaled position in the frame through bearing openings throughthe base thereof respectively.

5. The windlass with speed reducing means as set forth in claim 1wherein, there is an access opening in each opposite upstanding sidewall of the frame, wherein a bearing plate closes each of said oppositeside wall access openings, and wherein the output shaft projects throughand is journaled in each of said bearing plates to carry line haulingelements at opposite exterior sides of the frame.

6. A compact windlass with compound gearing for installation upon andabove a deck and with a removable motor below said deck and with aseparable drive shaft extended through an opening in said deck, andincluding, a frame with a chamber therein defined by a base andupstanding walls closed at the top and with an access opening in atleast one of said upstanding walls, a bearing plate closing said accessopening, transmission means comprised of input and output shaftsjournaled in the frame, the input shaft being driveably accessiblethrough a bearing opening in the base of the frame and driveablycarrying a drive element within said chamber, the output shaft extendingtransversely through said chamber and projecting through a bearingopening in said bearing plate and driveably carrying a line haulingelement at the exterior of the frame and driveably carrying a driveelement within said chamber, means interengaging said two drive elementsto effect a speed reduction, the said drive shaft of the motor beingslideably coupled to the said input shaft.

7. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 6 and wherein the motoris mounted onto the frame by fastening means extending through the deck.

8. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 6 and wherein the motoris mounted onto the frame by fasteners projecting therefrom and throughspacing means extending through the deck.

9. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 6 and wherein the motoris mounted onto the frame by circumferentially spaced and axiallydisposed fasteners projecting therefrom and through tubular spacersextending through the deck.

10. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 6 and wherein at leastthe drive shaft of the motor or the said input shaft projects from themotor or base of the frame respectively, a distance substantially equalto a minimum deck thickness.

11. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 6 and wherein the driveshaft of the motor projects from the end thereof opposed to theunderside of the deck, a distance substantially equal to a minimum deckthickness.

12. A compact windlass with compound gearing for installation upon andabove a deck and with a removable motor below said deck and with aseparable drive shaft extended through an opening in said deck, andincluding, a frame with a chamber therein defined by a base andupstanding walls closed at the top and with an access opening in atleast one of said upstanding walls, a bearing plate closing said accessopening, input transmission means comprised of a pair of shafts joumaledin the frame, one of said pair of shafts being driveably accessiblethrough a bearing opening in the base of the frame and driveablycarrying a drive element within said chamber, and the other of said pairof shafts being confined within said chamber and driveably carrying adriven element within said chamber, means interengaging said twoelements to effect a speed reduction of the second mentioned element andthe other of said pair of shafts, and output transmission meanscomprised of the other of said pair of shafts and an output shaftangularly related thereto and extending transversely through saidchamber, the output shaft projecting through and joumaled in a bearingopening in said bearing plate and driveably carrying a line haulingelement at the exterior of the frame and driveably carrying a wheelwithin said chamber, and the other of said pair of shafts driveablycarrying a worm engageably meshed with the wheel to effect a secondspeed reduction multiplying the first mentioned speed reduction, thesaid drive shaft of the motor being slideably coupled to the saiddriveably accessible one shaft of the input transmission means.

13. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein themotor is mounted onto the frame by fastening means extending through thedeck.

14. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein themotor is mounted onto the frame by fasteners projecting therefrom andthrough spacing means extending through the deck.

15. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein themotor is mounted onto the frame by circumferentially spaced and axiallydisposed fasteners projecting therefrom and through tubular spacersextending through the deck.

16. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein at leastthe drive shaft of the motor or the said driveably accessible one shaftof the input transmission means projects from the motor or base of theframe respectively, a distance substantially equal to a minimum deckthickness.

17. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein thedrive shaft of the motor projects from the end thereof opposed to theunderside of the deck, a distance substantially equal to a minimum deckthickness.

1. A compact windlass with compound gearing for installation upon andabove a deck and with a drive shaft to be exposed through an opening insaid deck, and including, a frame with a chamber therein defined by abase and upstanding walls closed at the top and with an access openingin at least one of said upstanding walls, a bearing plate closing saidaccess opening, input transmission means comprised of a pair of shaftsjournaled in the frame, one of said pair of shafts being driveablyaccessible through a bearing opening in the base of the frame anddriveably carrying a drive element within said chamber, and the other ofsaid pair of shafts being confined within said chamber and driveablycarrying a driven element within said chamber, means interengaging saidtwo elements to effect a speed reduction of the second mentioned elementand the otheR of said pair of shafts, and output transmission meanscomprised of the other of said pair of shafts and an output shaftangularly related thereto and extending transversely through saidchamber, the output shaft projecting through and journaled in a bearingopening in said bearing plate and driveably carrying a line haulingelement at the exterior of the frame and driveably carrying a wheelwithin said chamber, and the other of said pair of shafts driveablycarrying a worm engageably meshed with the wheel to effect a secondspeed reduction multiplying the first mentioned speed reduction.
 2. Thewindlass with speed reducing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein, thelower portion of the chamber is a sump to contain lubricant, and whereinthe first mentioned driveably accessible shaft projects through a shaftseal surrounding the said opening in the base of the frame.
 3. Thewindlass with speed reducing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein, thedrive and driven elements of the input transmission means are gears, andwherein the means interengaging said two elements is intermeshed teeththereon respectively.
 4. The windlass with speed reducing means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the access opening in the upstanding wall ofthe frame is sizeable to permit the entry into said chamber of the driveelements and said wheel and worm, and wherein said pair of shafts areeach entered into journaled position in the frame through bearingopenings through the base thereof respectively.
 5. The windlass withspeed reducing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein, there is an accessopening in each opposite upstanding side wall of the frame, wherein abearing plate closes each of said opposite side wall access openings,and wherein the output shaft projects through and is journaled in eachof said bearing plates to carry line hauling elements at oppositeexterior sides of the frame.
 6. A compact windlass with compound gearingfor installation upon and above a deck and with a removable motor belowsaid deck and with a separable drive shaft extended through an openingin said deck, and including, a frame with a chamber therein defined by abase and upstanding walls closed at the top and with an access openingin at least one of said upstanding walls, a bearing plate closing saidaccess opening, transmission means comprised of input and output shaftsjournaled in the frame, the input shaft being driveably accessiblethrough a bearing opening in the base of the frame and driveablycarrying a drive element within said chamber, the output shaft extendingtransversely through said chamber and projecting through a bearingopening in said bearing plate and driveably carrying a line haulingelement at the exterior of the frame and driveably carrying a driveelement within said chamber, means interengaging said two drive elementsto effect a speed reduction, the said drive shaft of the motor beingslideably coupled to the said input shaft.
 7. The windlass and motor asset forth in claim 6 and wherein the motor is mounted onto the frame byfastening means extending through the deck.
 8. The windlass and motor asset forth in claim 6 and wherein the motor is mounted onto the frame byfasteners projecting therefrom and through spacing means extendingthrough the deck.
 9. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 6 andwherein the motor is mounted onto the frame by circumferentially spacedand axially disposed fasteners projecting therefrom and through tubularspacers extending through the deck.
 10. The windlass and motor as setforth in claim 6 and wherein at least the drive shaft of the motor orthe said input shaft projects from the motor or base of the framerespectively, a distance substantially equal to a minimum deckthickness.
 11. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 6 andwherein the drive shaft of the motor projects from the end thereofopposed to the underside of the deck, a distance substantially equal toa minimum deck thickness.
 12. A compact winDlass with compound gearingfor installation upon and above a deck and with a removable motor belowsaid deck and with a separable drive shaft extended through an openingin said deck, and including, a frame with a chamber therein defined by abase and upstanding walls closed at the top and with an access openingin at least one of said upstanding walls, a bearing plate closing saidaccess opening, input transmission means comprised of a pair of shaftsjournaled in the frame, one of said pair of shafts being driveablyaccessible through a bearing opening in the base of the frame anddriveably carrying a drive element within said chamber, and the other ofsaid pair of shafts being confined within said chamber and driveablycarrying a driven element within said chamber, means interengaging saidtwo elements to effect a speed reduction of the second mentioned elementand the other of said pair of shafts, and output transmission meanscomprised of the other of said pair of shafts and an output shaftangularly related thereto and extending transversely through saidchamber, the output shaft projecting through and journaled in a bearingopening in said bearing plate and driveably carrying a line haulingelement at the exterior of the frame and driveably carrying a wheelwithin said chamber, and the other of said pair of shafts driveablycarrying a worm engageably meshed with the wheel to effect a secondspeed reduction multiplying the first mentioned speed reduction, thesaid drive shaft of the motor being slideably coupled to the saiddriveably accessible one shaft of the input transmission means.
 13. Thewindlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein the motor ismounted onto the frame by fastening means extending through the deck.14. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein themotor is mounted onto the frame by fasteners projecting therefrom andthrough spacing means extending through the deck.
 15. The windlass andmotor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein the motor is mounted onto theframe by circumferentially spaced and axially disposed fastenersprojecting therefrom and through tubular spacers extending through thedeck.
 16. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 and wherein atleast the drive shaft of the motor or the said driveably accessible oneshaft of the input transmission means projects from the motor or base ofthe frame respectively, a distance substantially equal to a minimum deckthickness.
 17. The windlass and motor as set forth in claim 12 andwherein the drive shaft of the motor projects from the end thereofopposed to the underside of the deck, a distance substantially equal toa minimum deck thickness.